The issuing of the writ on Monday was attended by Fiji's Elections Minister Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, Supervisor of Elections Mohammed Saneem and his deputy Michael Clancy.

Justice Gates says the Fijian Elections Office must receive the nominations of candidates by August 18.

The announcement of the writ is widely welcomed in Fiji, but I think the sense of disquiet and unease will continue about the actual process.

Brij Lal, Professor of Pacific and Asian History at the Australian National University

Professor Brij Lal, from the Australian National University, told Pacific Beat that the issuing of writs is an important step, but a "sense of disquiet" remains ahead of the country's first democratic election since 2006.

"Writs are one thing, but there are a number of things that have to be borne in mind as well," he said.

"The terms of reference for an international observer group is being negotiated and there is some tension over what an observer group ought to do. Which is, Fiji's Government wants them to only observe things on the day when the votes are cast, and others who are saying that they ought to cast their nets more widely to look at the media [and] freedom of speech.

"I think the issue also is there won't really be a level playing field, and that is accepted by virtually everybody: This government will use its powers of incumbency to the hilt, to the eve of voting.

"So the announcement of the writ is widely welcomed in Fiji, but I think the sense of disquiet and unease will continue about the actual process and the lack of a level playing field in this contest."

Meanwhile, registration has closed for Fijians wanting to vote in the September polls.